POULTRY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1901, 10 July 1890, Page 5

POULTRY NOTES.

ON THE SEPARATION OF SEXES IN CHICKENS FOR THE TABLE. (W. B. Tegktmeieb, in the Field.) The determination of the age at which chicken should be shut up in order to be fattened for the table is a point of very great importance, if first-rate results are required. The general rule is to shut up the cockerels " as soon as their tails begin to turn," that is, as soon as the two long ceutral tail feathers overlap the straight feathers of the tail ; aud the pullets before they have laid.

The object of these directions is evident ; as soon as the young birds begin to exercise their reproductive fuuotions, they cease to be firstclass table poultry. It is quite true they are edible, but they are not birds that one would wish to pl»ce before a gourmet; and what is still more to the point, not only is quality lessened, but the quantity is seriously interfered with, for tie birds cease to grow or fatceu at the' rate they did previously. It is not generally known that by keeping each sex not only apart, but absolutely out of sight of tho other, both the cockerels and pullets may be grown to a much greater siza than usual, without the quality of the flesh being deteriorated. If the young cocks are separated before their tails begin to turn, and removed out of tbe sight of the hens, they do not become hard and coarse, aud grow to a larger size than they otherwise would. lam not recommending that they should be shut up in small runs or pens, but that they be kept quite apart, and out of the sight of the other sex, If this is done, the severe and painful operation of caponising is quite unnecessary ; in fact, it is not generally performed, even on the finest birds at the fat poultry show held in Paris during February. Tho keeping tho sexual proclivities in abeyance by separation is sometimes practised with regard to gold or Amhersfc pheasants, These birds, as every rearer of them is aware, are most pugnacious, the males killing not only one another, but also the females. Nevertheless, a score of gold cocks in full plumage may be kept iv one enclosure, affording one of the most gorgeous sight* in the nniruftl king-lorn, provided only that the whole of the males wero put together whilst chicken, and had never been allowed to associate with the hens. Under these circumstances they live peaceably, but the introduction of a single hen would have been the signal for the commencement of a battle royal, from which it is probable not a single bird would emerge alive. . If a corresponding plan is adopted with poultry, tbe young cocks can be kept until late in tho season or even into the new year without deterioration, but, on tho other hand, with great improvement as regards size. The same remarks are true, mutatis mutandis, with regard to the hens. A fowl that has laid £n egg is herself edible, but cannob for a moment ba compared to a pullet that has not laid ; the quality, tenderness, and sapidity of the flesh of the latter are greatly superior. Hence those pullets that are intended to be fattened for tbe table should not be allowed to run promiscuously <vith the other birds in the poultry yard ; if firstclass fattened poulards are required they should' be separated. , , It may be said that this separation of the sexes in poultry is too much trouble to be gene* folly followed. Thismay.be true, but in many dlaoes where large numbers of poultry are reared for home consumption or the market, it could be done without any great increase of trouble, and the improvement in the birds would amply repay that which' was necessary. To those who rear for their own tables and have facilities for carrying these 'suggestions effect, ,1 can strongly recommend them ; but they must take the strictest precautions that the birds are separated before they have manifested any sexual proclivities.